Geron Corporation Announces Executive Leadership Transitions and Appointments

Core Insights - Geron Corporation has announced significant executive transitions to align its leadership with strategic priorities, including the appointment of Ahmed ElNawawi as the new Chief Commercial Officer [1][2][3] Leadership Changes - Andrew Grethlein, the current Chief Operating Officer, will transition to a consulting role effective October 15, 2025, after serving since January 2019 [1] - Jim Ziegler, the current Chief Commercial Officer, will also depart on October 15, 2025, to pursue other interests [1] - Ahmed ElNawawi will take over as Chief Commercial Officer on October 20, 2025, focusing on driving growth and maximizing the potential of RYTELO [1][2] New Executive Appointments - Three additional executives have been appointed: - Shanthakumar Tyavanagimatt as Senior Vice President, Chief Technical Officer, bringing over 25 years of experience in drug development and technical operations [2][5] - Dawn Schottlandt as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs, with over 20 years in investor relations within the life sciences industry [2][8] - Bryan Ridgell as Senior Vice President, Portfolio and Project Management and Chief of Staff, with extensive experience in program and portfolio management [2][8] Strategic Focus - The new leadership team is expected to enhance Geron's capabilities in commercial, operational, and development areas, particularly in expanding the reach and impact of RYTELO [3][4] - ElNawawi aims to deepen engagement and deliver operational excellence across the business, building on the existing foundation [4] Company Overview - Geron Corporation is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on changing the course of blood cancer, with its first-in-class telomerase inhibitor RYTELO approved for certain adult patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes [6]